Automatic car safety switch



. July 27, 1926.

T. ESKILSSON AUTOMATIC CAR SAFETY swrrca F'iled Feb 6. 1923 Patented July 27, 1926.

UNITED STATES THEODORE ESKILSSON, or NEW Yoaxm. Y.

' AUTOMATIC CAR SAFETY SWITCH.

Application filed February My present invention relates to safety switches, particularly, but not exclusively, intended for use in connection with passenger elevators and like structures, and aims to provide devices of the general character indicated which shall be designed to place the elevators or like structures in which such devices may be installed in an inoperative condition, in a certain and simple manner, when the elevator or like structure is left without its customary attendant. A further object of the present invention is to provide devices ofthe general character referred to which shall be so constructed and arranged to be operated as to provide readily visible means which shall serve as a reminder to the operator of the elevator or like structure of the desirability or necessity of rendering the elevator or like structure inoperative when he desires or is, for some reason, compelled to leave the same. Preferably the devices of the present invention are so constructed and arranged as to automatically render the elevator or like structure inoperative upon the removal ofa key or other visible reminder or operating member, the removal of such key or equivalent device automatically rendering, in the desired simple and certain manner,'the elevator or equivalent structure inoperative, and its return or reinsertion and operation beingrequired and acting to restore the elevator or equivalent structure to its normal operative condition.

In the following specification I shall describe, and in the annexed drawing-show, an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. It is, however, to be clearly understood that my invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described for purposes of illustration onl a V li eferring to the drawing, wherein the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated:

The single figure of the drawing shows in plan view, with the cover of the device omitted, one illustrative form of the present invention, with the operative position of the i switch indicated in full lines and the inoperative position of the switch indicated in dotted lines.

Referring now to the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the present. invention and particularly to the drawing illustrating the same, 10 indicates the casing of. the device as a whole, which may be made of composi-t e, 1923. Serial No. 617,231;

tion, stone, slate or other suitable material,

preferably of an insulating character, and which may be provided with a cover, which has here been omitted for the purpose of making the showing clearer, which maybe attached to the casing 10 by means of screws or the equivalent of fastening devices passing into the threaded or other openings 11 and 12 inthe, casing. The casing 10= has the ears or lugs 18 and 14 provided with the threaded or other openings 15 and 16, respectively, by means of which the casing 10 and the switch parts contained therein may be suitably fastened in any desired position in the elevator or other structure in which the device ofvthe present invention is intended to be employed.

WVithin thecasing 10 is a switch generally indicated by reference character S and comprising a panel or other base or supporting member 17 mounted on one of the sides of the casing, the panel or base being'preferably made of insulating material, such as insulating fibre or the like. While various types of electric switches may be employed in accordance with the. principles of the present invention, I- prefer to use a switch of the knife blade type, since this type of switch possesses numerous advantages from the viewpoints of simplicity of construction and certainty of operation for the intended purpose.

The switch S accordingly comprises a plurality of clip contacts 18 and 19 with which are associated the respective binding posts or equivalent connecting devices 20 and 21.

The blade 22 of the switch S is pivotally,

mounted about the pivot 23 between the prongs of the clip 19 in such a position that the operation of the blade 22 by means of the handle 24 into the closed position of the switch, as shown in full lines in the draw-v ing, will bridge the gap between contacts 18 and 19 and thus close the circuit so as to render the elevator or like structureoperative, while the operation of the blade 22' into open position of the switch, corresponding to the position shown in dotted lines in the drawing, will render the elevator or like structure inoperative.

At its inner end the blade 22 is provided with an extension 25 attached to the blade 22 by any suitable fastening means,such as the screws 26. Preferably the extension 26 is angularly .disposedwith respect to the blade 22, so as to render the operation of the switch into open or inoperative posical tion, corresponding to the inoperative posr tion of the elevator or like structure in which the switch may be installed, more certain andconvenient. The extension 25 is so constructed and arranged as to be operated on by a cam member 27 which is preferably of substantially semi-circular shape and is preferably made of any suitable insulating ma terial, such as insulating fibre. The cam member 27 is attached to thetumbler 28 of a lock which is generally indicated by reference character L. The cam member 27 may be attached to the tumbler 28 by means of screws or other suitable fastening devices 29.

As clearly'indicatcd in the drawing, the operation of the tumbler 28 carrying the cam member 27 from the unlocked position of the look L, corresponding to the position of the cam member and tumbler indicated in full lines in the drawing, into the locked position 01": the lock, corresponding to the position of the cam member and tumbler shown iii-dotted lines in the drawing, will serve, it the switch is in closed position, cor responding to the tall lines in the drawing, to throw [said switch into open "position,

co'rrespending to the dotted lines the drawing. 7

For the purpose of effecting the desired operation of the lock into unlocked and locked positions, corresponding to the closed and open positions oftlie switch, respective ly, which in turn correspond to the operative and inoperative positions, respectively, of the elevator or other structure in which the device maybe installed, I prefer that the lock L shall be, of the type known in the art as the Yale type of tumbler lock, provided with a key K which can be removed only when the lock is in locked position, corresponding to the open position the switch,

as indicated in dotted lines in the drawing, which in turn corresponds to the inoperative position of the elevator or like structure in which the device may be installed. The lock structure, which may be of any suitable sort, within the limits imposed by the functions intended to be performed by it, is not a part "of the present invention and need therefore not be shown here, being contained within a suitable housing 80 fastened within the c'asmg 10 by any suitable tastennig means, such 'as the screws or equivalent" fastening de vices 31. I

The operation of the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the present invention, and the advantages of the same in use, will be substantially clear from the foregoing description and may beb'riefiy summarized as follows: Assuming the switch to be initially in'closedposition and the leek to be in unlocked or open position, corresponding to the showing in full lines in the drawing, it will be apparent that the key K cannot be removed from the lock L without operating the lock into locked positiomwhich will operate the vitcli into open position. In the position of the device first described, the key will remain in the lockas a visible reminder to the operator that the same is to be removed when he leaves the elevator or equivalent structure in which the device-is installed. However, as already indicated, the removal of the key cannot be effected without throwing the lock into locked position, corresponding tothe open position of the switch and the inoperative position of the elevator or equivalent structure. With the key removed, the switch will be securely locked in open position, corresponding to the showing in dottedlines in the drawing. Nor can the switch be unlocked and operated into closed position, corresponding to the operative position of the elevator or like structure, without the reinsertion of the key into the look and the operation of the look into unlocked position, thus releasing the switch, which may now be manually operated into closed-position, corresponding to the operative posi tion of the elevator or like structure.

It will be apparent that the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the present invention is exceedingly simple in construction and may be cheaply manufactured on a basis which permitsoi' quantity production; The device is certain and safe in operation, and the location of the key is such-as to serveas a constant and readily visible reminder to the operator that the key should be removed when he leaves the car. This act he cannot perform without looking the switch in open position, corresponding to the inoperative position of the elevator or equivalent structure. The operation of the switch is therefore, in a sense, automatic, which commends the device to underwriters and insurers of passenger elevators and like structures, and renders the device a commercially valuable and highly marketable article. i a

vVhat I claim is: 1

1. In a safety switch for electric elevators and the like, a key-operated-lock of the tumand adapted to be locked in open position i of the switch upon operation of the look into locked position by the action of said cam member on said extension. v

2. In a safety switch for electric-elevators and the like, a key 'operated lock of the tumbler type, a rotatable tumbler-operated camsu'pporting member, and a substantially semi circular cam member of insulating material attached to said cam=supporting memher, in combination with a rotatable switch member having an extension adapted for engagement by said cam member and adapted to be locked in open position of the switch upon operation of the lock into locked position by the action of said cam member on said extension.

3. In a safety switch for electric elevators and the like, a key-operated lock of the tumbler type, a rotatable tumbler-operated camsupporting member, and a cam member of insulating material attached to said camsupporting member, in combination with a rotatable switch member of the knife-blade type having an angularly disposed extension adapted for engagement by said cam member and adapted to be locked in open position of the switch upon operation of thelook into locked position by the action of said cam member on said extension.

4. In a safety switch for electric elevators and the like, a key-operated lock of the tumbler type, a rotatable tumbler-operated camsupporting member, and a substantially semi-circular cam member of insulating material attached to said cam Su pOrtingmemher, in combination with a rotatable switch member of the knife-blade type having an angularly disposed extension'adapted for engagement by said cam member and adapted to be locked in open position of the switch upon operation of the look into locked position by the action of said cam member on said extension.

In testimony, whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 27th day of January, 1923.

' THEODORE ESKILSSON. 

